AKITA Drilling Ltd. Normal Course Issuer Bid

CALGARY, May 24, 2012 /CNW/ - The Corporation has filed a Notice of Intention to Make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (the "Notice") with the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") pursuant to which the Corporation indicated that it intends, subject to the receipt of regulatory approval, to make a normal course issuer bid for certain of its outstanding Class A Non-Voting Shares on the terms set forth in the Notice.  At the time of filing the Notice, the board of directors of the Corporation was of the belief, and continues to be of the belief, that the purchase of the Class A Shares from time to time at appropriate prices will minimize any dilution resulting from the exercise of stock options to purchase Class A Shares and is an advantageous use of the Corporation's funds.

On May 23, 2012, 16,376,421 Class A Shares were outstanding.  Under the rules of the Exchange, in the period commencing on May29,2012 and ending on May 28, 2013 the Corporation may acquire up to 818,821 Class A Shares of the Corporation, being approximately 5% of the Class A Shares outstanding as at May 23, 2012.  If market conditions permit, the Corporation presently anticipates that it will acquire up to 491,292 Class A Shares, which number represents approximately 3.0% of the Class A Shares outstanding as at May 15, 2012.  The Corporation does not intend to acquire more than 3.0% of the Class A Shares as a result of this bid.

The average daily trading volume for the Class A Shares for the six month period preceding the date hereof was 11,893.  Pursuant to the rules of the exchange, the Corporation may acquire up to 2,973 Class A Shares per day.

Any shares purchased pursuant to the Notice will be cancelled.  Shares will be purchased at the market price of the shares at the time of purchase and will be purchased on behalf of the Corporation by a registered investment dealer through the facilities of the Exchange and in accordance with Exchange requirements. The funding for any purchase of Class A Shares pursuant to the normal course issuer bid will be financed out of working capital of the Corporation.

The average daily trading volume for the Class A Shares for the six month period preceding the date hereof was 11,893.  The Corporation purchased 100,208 Class A Shares at an average trading price of $11.16 during the most recent 12 month period preceding the date hereof pursuant to a normal course issuer bid which commenced on April 18, 2011 and expired on April 17, 2012.  All of such purchases were made by means of open market transactions through the facilities of the Exchange.  Trustees under the pension plans of affiliates of the Corporation purchased no Class A Shares during the 12 month period preceding the date hereof.

A copy of the Notice may be obtained by any shareholder without charge, by contacting the Secretary of the Corporation at the head office of the Corporation.

AKITA Drilling Ltd. is an Alberta Company engaged in the contract drilling business and its outstanding Class A Non-Voting Shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "AKT.A".

Murray Roth
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
AKITA Drilling Ltd.
[phone]